Public Costs of Teen Parenting

“If more children were born to parents who are ready and able to care for them, we would see a significant reduction in a host of social problems… from school failure and crime to child abuse and neglect.” — The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Teen childbearing in the United States costs taxpayers (federal, state, and local) at least $9.4 billion dollars, according to a 2010 report by Saul Hoffman, Ph.D. and published by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

Most of the costs of teen childbearing are associated with negative consequences for the children of teen mothers: